NCLEX-RN Safety and Infection Control Exam 2026: 75 Patient Safety and
Infection Prevention Questions and answers with Rationales
1. During admission, a client has suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which nursing
action is most appropriate?
A. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
B. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
C. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
D. Place the client in an airborne infection isolation room and use an N95 or equivalent
respirator.
Correct Answer: D. Place the client in an airborne infection isolation room and use an
N95 or equivalent respirator.
Rationale: Tuberculosis is spread by airborne particles. Negative-pressure airborne isolation
and fit-tested respiratory protection reduce transmission; a surgical mask alone is not
adequate protection for staff entering the room.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
2. During admission, a client has Clostridioides difficile diarrhea. Which nursing action
is most appropriate?
A. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
B. Use contact precautions and wash hands with soap and water after care.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: B. Use contact precautions and wash hands with soap and water after
care.
,Rationale: C. difficile spores are not reliably removed by alcohol-based hand rub alone.
Contact precautions and soap-and-water handwashing are important, along with
environmental sporicidal cleaning.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
3. During admission, a nurse experiences a needlestick from a used hollow-bore needle.
Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
B. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
C. Wash the area promptly and report the exposure immediately according to occupational-
exposure protocol.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: C. Wash the area promptly and report the exposure immediately
according to occupational-exposure protocol.
Rationale: Prompt reporting allows risk assessment, source testing when appropriate,
baseline testing, and timely post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated. The incident should never
be hidden or delayed.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
4. During admission, a confused hospitalized client repeatedly attempts to get out of
bed. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
B. Use the least restrictive safety measures such as close observation, toileting, low bed
position, and alarms as appropriate.
, C. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
D. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
Correct Answer: B. Use the least restrictive safety measures such as close observation,
toileting, low bed position, and alarms as appropriate.
Rationale: Restraints are not the first-line response to fall risk. Addressing reversible causes
and using least restrictive interventions protects safety while preserving mobility and dignity.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Generate solutions
5. During admission, a nurse is preparing a sterile field and reaches across it with an
unsterile sleeve. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
B. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
C. Consider the field contaminated and set up a new sterile field.
D. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
Correct Answer: C. Consider the field contaminated and set up a new sterile field.
Rationale: An unsterile object passing over a sterile field contaminates it because
microorganisms can fall onto the field. Sterility must be re-established rather than assumed.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Evaluate outcomes
6. During admission, a client with influenza requires transport for a necessary test.
Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Have the client wear a surgical mask during transport and notify the receiving
department.
, B. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: A. Have the client wear a surgical mask during transport and notify the
receiving department.
Rationale: Influenza is primarily transmitted by droplets. Masking the client during transport
and coordinating precautions reduce exposure to others.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
7. During admission, a nurse discovers that the wrong dose of an antihypertensive was
administered. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Assess the client first, notify the provider as indicated, and complete the safety-reporting
process.
B. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
Correct Answer: A. Assess the client first, notify the provider as indicated, and
complete the safety-reporting process.
Rationale: The client’s condition is the first priority after a medication error. Reporting supports
treatment and systems improvement; the incident report is not used as a substitute for clinical
documentation.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
Infection Prevention Questions and answers with Rationales
1. During admission, a client has suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. Which nursing
action is most appropriate?
A. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
B. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
C. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
D. Place the client in an airborne infection isolation room and use an N95 or equivalent
respirator.
Correct Answer: D. Place the client in an airborne infection isolation room and use an
N95 or equivalent respirator.
Rationale: Tuberculosis is spread by airborne particles. Negative-pressure airborne isolation
and fit-tested respiratory protection reduce transmission; a surgical mask alone is not
adequate protection for staff entering the room.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
2. During admission, a client has Clostridioides difficile diarrhea. Which nursing action
is most appropriate?
A. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
B. Use contact precautions and wash hands with soap and water after care.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: B. Use contact precautions and wash hands with soap and water after
care.
,Rationale: C. difficile spores are not reliably removed by alcohol-based hand rub alone.
Contact precautions and soap-and-water handwashing are important, along with
environmental sporicidal cleaning.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
3. During admission, a nurse experiences a needlestick from a used hollow-bore needle.
Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
B. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
C. Wash the area promptly and report the exposure immediately according to occupational-
exposure protocol.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: C. Wash the area promptly and report the exposure immediately
according to occupational-exposure protocol.
Rationale: Prompt reporting allows risk assessment, source testing when appropriate,
baseline testing, and timely post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated. The incident should never
be hidden or delayed.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
4. During admission, a confused hospitalized client repeatedly attempts to get out of
bed. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
B. Use the least restrictive safety measures such as close observation, toileting, low bed
position, and alarms as appropriate.
, C. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
D. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
Correct Answer: B. Use the least restrictive safety measures such as close observation,
toileting, low bed position, and alarms as appropriate.
Rationale: Restraints are not the first-line response to fall risk. Addressing reversible causes
and using least restrictive interventions protects safety while preserving mobility and dignity.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Generate solutions
5. During admission, a nurse is preparing a sterile field and reaches across it with an
unsterile sleeve. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
B. Ask the family to manage the safety issue instead of the healthcare team.
C. Consider the field contaminated and set up a new sterile field.
D. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
Correct Answer: C. Consider the field contaminated and set up a new sterile field.
Rationale: An unsterile object passing over a sterile field contaminates it because
microorganisms can fall onto the field. Sterility must be re-established rather than assumed.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Evaluate outcomes
6. During admission, a client with influenza requires transport for a necessary test.
Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Have the client wear a surgical mask during transport and notify the receiving
department.
, B. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
Correct Answer: A. Have the client wear a surgical mask during transport and notify the
receiving department.
Rationale: Influenza is primarily transmitted by droplets. Masking the client during transport
and coordinating precautions reduce exposure to others.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
7. During admission, a nurse discovers that the wrong dose of an antihypertensive was
administered. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Assess the client first, notify the provider as indicated, and complete the safety-reporting
process.
B. Document the situation without changing the current plan of care.
C. Delay intervention until the next scheduled nursing round.
D. Use a less protective measure even though the transmission route requires more
protection.
Correct Answer: A. Assess the client first, notify the provider as indicated, and
complete the safety-reporting process.
Rationale: The client’s condition is the first priority after a medication error. Reporting supports
treatment and systems improvement; the incident report is not used as a substitute for clinical
documentation.
NCLEX Client Need: Safety and Infection Control
Clinical Judgment Focus: Take action
